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40 partygoers arrested in downtown Dixon

Police: Party was 'large and out of control'

BY MATT MENCARINI
mmencarini@saukvalley.com
800-798-4085, ext. 5529

July 8, 2014

DIXON – Dixon police arrested 40 people on charges of underage drinking at a party in downtown Dixon early Saturday.

Police responded around midnight to a building in the 200 block of First Street after getting a call about people throwing bottles from the second floor into the alley and people urinating from the top of the three-story building, Police Chief Danny Langloss said.

There were about 80 people at the party, which was "large and out of control," police said Tuesday in a news release.

Some of the partygoers ran before police arrived, and others were trying to scatter, Langloss said.

Police believe the alcohol was brought to the party by the partygoers.

About half of those at the party were either 21 or older or younger than 21 but not drinking alcohol, Langloss said.

Nearly all of those arrested were from Sterling and Rock Falls.

Those underage people who told police they hadn't been drinking were released once they passed a breath test. Police took information from the 21-and-older group, then released them, Langloss said.

The rest of the group was split between male and female, and older or younger than 18. Police issued 38 city citations for consumption of alcohol as a minor.

The other two were arrested on state charges of consumption of alcohol as a minor.

Bryan D. Gutierrez, 20, of Sterling, was arrested on two counts of resisting or obstructing a peace officer, in addition to the state charge for underage consumption.

Rafael Sosa, 20, of Sterling, was the other man arrested on the state charge.

Langloss said the party was hosted by Micah Khuntangta, 18, of Sterling, son of the building's owner, Trirong Khuntangta. Langloss said Micah's father wasn't aware of the party, and cooperated with police.

Several of the partygoers were "severely intoxicated," Langloss said, and police had someone come to pick them up before they were released.

Some police officers who were patrolling Petunia Festival had to be called away to handle the arrests and investigation at the party, Langloss said.

"The Dixon Police Department has a long-standing policy of zero tolerance on underage drinking," he said in the release. "These arrests should serve as a warning to those organizing these types of parties. We will dedicate the necessary resources to address this problem, regardless of the size."